Happy New Year!
Now that we are semi-established in our temporary home, it feels like time to update you on our journey thus far. I am writing from Union City, NJ, where we have set up residence in the top two floors of a row house. Our block lies between Latino and Italian neighborhoods, and we are right across the river from midtown Manhattan near the west end of the Lincoln Tunnel. The basement apartment here is occupied part of the time by our landlords who use it when they have a need to be close to the city, and generally they are here for a night or two a week when Dan is with his 4 year old son from a previous marriage (who lives close by). The home is cozy and warm and was recently rennovated. The kitchen is great, we have access to a small yard outside for the dog and there is a stacked washer/dryer and a parking spot. We like it here a lot!
We have two playgrounds, a Chinese restaurant and several Italian delis/restaurants within close walking distance, and while we still haven't quite figured out Brett's commute for tomorrow, there are bus and subway lines close by.
We didn't make it to the Times Square New Year's celebration...both kids have been sick the past couple of days, they were coming down with it en route. It made them mellow, sweet and charming travelers, and now that we are here they have had fevers and sleep 15 hours a night and they take a nap or two during the day. Maya is starting to feel better, so we have high hopes that we will all be healthy soon and be ready to start exploring. Weather-wise, it feels like Portland so far! Today it started raining, but up until today it was sunny and pleasant.As far as our adventures before arriving on the East Coast, after a whirlwind departure from Wilsonville we arrived in Disneyland at our hotel at 2 am Christmas day.
We were weary and burned out even before our late arrival, mostly from all the last minute details that getting our house ready for renters and packing and cleaning required. Our house looked amazing when we left it--almost brand new! I went out and bought Disneyland tickets early, and our first few hours there were great. Then about the time Jonah collapsed from exhaustion and we were all starving, we became separated (Maya and Brett together and Jonah and I together) and spent the rest of the day in twosomes, unable to find a way to hook back up. That and the fact that Disneyland was *packed* made it not that great of an experience. Jonah took a 2 hour nap and was just not at all into waiting in the 1 hour lines most rides had. Parts of it were fun, the kids liked the Christmas Parade, the Aladdin show, Peter pan, It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise. After Disneyland we drove the 4 hour drive from L.A. to Yuma, AZ that night, with another 2 am arrival at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Our days in Yuma were filled with trips to the lovely outdoor pool & hot tub (we couldn't get Maya to get out of the pool), a venture into Mexico where Maya had her hair braided, picking grapefruits and oranges and stirring around our big piles of chaotically packed luggage in the middle of the floor. We got caught up on our sleep and were well fed, including a belated turkey Christmas dinner, which was just great (thanks mom and dad!).
We left Yuma on Friday morning and drove to San Diego. We would have loved to have had more time to explore the city, which looked so beautiful and interesting. The kids couldn't be talked in to going to Sea World, so I (Kristin) ended up going alone, being the nerd that I am. I ended up getting a free ticket at the door and really enjoyed spending the evening there. By the time I arrived back at the hotel, the kids were asleep and the alarm clocks were set for 4 am for our one way flight to New York. The flights here were uneventful except for a brief period when we offered up our seats on an overbooked flight and thought we had finally scored $1600 in flight vouchers, 1st class upgrades and hotel and meals...but alas, a few people didn't show up in the end and they didn't need our seats after all. We even picked up Banchi yesterday. He handled his flight marvelously...it didn't phase him at all. He likes it here, especially all the walks and the pigeons and squirrels in the park because they let him get a lot closer to them before running away than the birds in Wilsonville do, and he actually thinks he might catch one.So tomorrow is Brett's first day of work! He is ironing right now. It is a bit unnerving to imagine him one of the oodles of Manhattan commuters.
The kids and I just plan to chill until we are all well again. The kids are doing great (aside from being sick). They do miss their friends and the rest of their clothes and toys, but hopefully our short-term boxes will arrive tomorrow. Can't remember what we actually packed in those boxes, but hopefully it is some good stuff. We would love to hear from all of you and we hope you have a wonderful 2007!
Love,Kristin and Brett
PS Here is our contact info. for the next 3 months until we find our own place:
310A 22nd Street
Union City, NJ, 07087
201-766-3300 home
503-312-5030 cell
No comments:
Post a Comment